Tasty Tuesday comes with a deliciously spicy recipe for chicken enchiladas from romance author Amy Lillard. Throw in the heat from her Texas couple fighting their attraction to each other, and you’ve got a winner. I’ll let Amy tell you more about the meal and the story. Take it away, Amy!

One of the most fun things about writing is creating a situation, dreaming up characters, and then turning them loose and watching what happens next. Most often this results in a couple of characters who are completely unexpected and adorably lovable, but also fill the story with rich humor and wisdom that might not have otherwise made its way onto the page. Grandma Esther Langston is one of these characters.

I’ve known that Esther would be a part of the Cattle Creek stories from the very, very beginning. Even in those early stages when I hadn’t even figured out everyone’s name, she was there. What I hadn’t planned on was her spunk, her candid remarks, and the comic relief that she brings to the series. She’s worked hard to reach her golden years and feels it’s her God-given right to say what’s on her mind. She loves her family fiercely and would do anything to protect her grandsons and her great-granddaughter. And like most Texas/southern women, she shows this love in the kitchen. One of her family’s favorite meals is chicken enchiladas. They are the favorite for celebrations, birthdays, and pick-me-ups. After all, nothing says I love you like gooey, cheesy Tex-Mex. The best part of all? They are very easy and extremely tasty. But don’t take my word for it, try them for yourself!

Grandma Esther’s Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

8 oz pkg Monterey Jack Cheese

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

½ cup chopped onion

1 cup sour cream

1 jalapeno pepper finely chopped

Mix well and roll up into flour tortillas. Makes 10-12. Place seam side down in a sprayed casserole dish. Cover with sauce (recipe below) and bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with extra cheese and cilantro if desired.

Sauce:

1 can chicken broth

¼ cup flour

¼ cup butter

1 cup sour cream

1 can chopped green chilies.

Melt butter in sauce pan. Stir in flour until smooth. Add chicken broth and cook until thickened. Stir in sour cream and chilies.

As cowboys, the Langston brothers of Cattle Creek, Texas, know it’s easy to mend a fence. Mending a broken heart, however, takes time…
Rancher Jake Langston prides himself on being the sensible type. But five years after the loss of his wife left him to raise their daughter alone, he indulges in a one-night stand with a sexy stranger. He thought he’d never see the woman again. Four months later, though, she’s standing in his drive with a big surprise.

Bryn Talbot wants nothing from the hunky cowboy who got her pregnant, but her Southern nature demands she at least tell him about it. When Jake’s family persuades her to stay for a while, she’s soon won over by their charms—and by Jake. But with the losses the two of them have suffered in the past, neither is sure if they’re ready to take the leap to forever…

Amy loves nothing more than a good book. Except for her family…and maybe homemade tacos…and nail polish. But reading and writing are definitely way up on the list.

Born and bred in Mississippi, Amy is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, two spoiled cats, and one very lazy beagle. Oh, and don’t forget the stray kitty that has taken up residence on her front porch. ^..^

When she’s not creating happy endings, she’s chauffeuring her teen prodigy to guitar lessons and practice for whatever sport he’s into this week She has a variety of hobbies, but her favorite is whatever gets her out of housework.

Amy is an award winning author with more than thirty novels and novellas in print. She is a member of RWA, ACFW, NINC, and the Author’s Guild. She loves to hear from readers. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Get to know more about her and her books at her website.

What did I tell you? Both the enchiladas and the book sound tempting! I think I’d substitute parsley for the cilantro, since I’m not fond of it, but other than that slight modification, I’m in! Thanks so much for sharing both with us, Amy!

P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I only send out when there is news to share. News like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers. Also, I’ll be sharing one chapter each month in 2017 of a new historical romance novella, Elizabeth’s Hope, the prequel to my A More Perfect Union series, with my subscribers. Thanks and happy reading!